Los Alamitos Crash Injures Four Pedestrians, Driver

A car reportedly hit four pedestrians in Los Alamitos on Wednesday, October 11, critically injuring them. The vehicle then entered the drive-through area of a Chase Bank, nearly hitting the building.

The crash occurred in the vicinity of Ball Road and Bloomfield Street. Two of the injured were said to be adult special needs students in their late teens. Another two were instructional aides in their program at the Los Alamitos Unified School District. They were going to a local grocery store to recycle bottles.

The car’s driver, an unidentified woman, was also injured. She is 37 years old.

Cause Of Pedestrian-Car Accident Under Investigation

Her car was on Bloomfield Street and began traveling north in the southbound lanes, according to police.

The vehicle went through an intersection and hit the four people standing at a corner of the intersection. They had just crossed in the crosswalk, according to witnesses. The car then went off the road and crashed near a bank building.

Although the four were described as critically injured in initial NBC Los Angeles reports, police indicated that the injuries are not expected to be life-threatening in a later KTLA update.

Police are still investigating the cause of the accident. The did indicate that drugs and alcohol are not suspected.

The Rights of Pedestrians in Southern California

Vehicle crashes involving pedestrians are all too common, and can cause injury or death. Pedestrians make up approximately 22% of all traffic fatalities in the state of California.

Motorists should remember that pedestrians have the right-of-way in crosswalks or other designated crossing or walking areas.

In a court, judgements on accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians depend on who was at fault in the accident. If pedestrians cross in a nondesignated area and dart in front of a driver, for example, they may be found at fault. If vehicle drivers are going too fast to stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk, or do not operate their vehicles correctly and hit a pedestrian for other reasons, for example, they can be found at fault.